The feisty meeting followed a simmering reaction on all sides to the midweek reverse at relegation battlers Rotherham.

Aitor Karanka during Middlesbrough's game with Ipswich Town at Portman Road (Photo: Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

And with the atmosphere strained he was asked to stay away from training on Saturday and was requested not to travel with the team to Charlton on Sunday for a game that ended up in a disappointing 2-0 loss.